Mike Henderson was born in Peoria, Illinois where he attended Coin High School (now in the South Page system). There he earned 11 varsity letters while competing in 6-8 man football, basketball, and track. From high school Mike attended Iowa State University where he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Journalism and Animal Science. He was the National Collegiate Livestock Judging Individual champion his junior year which shows he has always had the ability to pick and rank whether it is cattle or sports teams.
While in college he served as Sports Editor of the Iowa State Daily, was Student Assistant Sports Information Director for ISU, was ISU correspondent for the Associated Press for 4 years. Following graduation, Mike has held various positions: Editor of the Duroc News in Peoria, Illinois; Farm Manager and Export Director of Bill Rite farm in Happy, Texas; Assistant Sports Information Director at Drake University; Information Director IGHSAU from 1973 to the present. Other areas where Mike has contributed to track and field in Iowa are:
- • Statistician for Drake Relays since a student at Iowa State – 1994 was his 30th year.
- • Results coordinator for seven outdoor CAA Championship Track and Field meets, Twelve Missouri Valley Conference indoor meets, four Missouri Valley Conference outdoor meets; four Big Eight Conference outdoor meets; twenty-two State Boys’ outdoor track meets in addition to the Girls’ State Meets.
He has also worked the State Indoor Boys’ meet at Iowa City and the State Federation Indoor and Outdoor at Drake. He served on the games committee for the first-ever National Collegiate Women’s cross country meet at Iowa State in 1974.
Mike trained three Sports Information Directors who have served United States Track and Field as Chief Press Officers for international competition. Maybe you recognize the names of Steve Hellyer, first-ever Goodwill Games; Tome Kroeschell, World Championships in Japan; Mike Mahon, Pan-American Games in Cuba.
Mike was appointed by the Los Angeles Olympic Committee as Head Press Officer for the graveyard shift from 10 pm until morning – he turned this down as it conflicted with the State Softball Tournament. Honors Mike has received include:
- Iowa Athletic Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award in 1985.
- National Athletic Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award in 1991.
- National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Contributor Service Award.
- Iowa High School Swimming Coaches Association Service Award.
- Drake Relays 25 year Service Award, 1988. 6. Drake Relays Media Award, 1994.
Mike has been a “Track-Nut” since day one. His father and uncles competed at Iowa State and his dad, Jim, was also a Drake Relays’ statistician. In grade school, Mike used crayolas and dice for “play” track meets complete with scoring and he would organize neighborhood meets using window screens for hurdles, bricks for shot puts, dinner plates for discus, and brooms for the javelin. Mike’s family consists of his father who passed away in 1971; his mother, the biggest track fan living in Coin; brother Joe who lives in Eugene Oregon and has written 20 books on distance running; a sister Anne, city Editor of Omaha World-Herald; and sister Emily, a social worker for the University of Iowa Hospitals. When you want results everyone calls the Girls’ Union and talks to the Human Computer, Mike Henderson.